Legendary pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy took some time with us to discuss his relationship with Rachmaninov's music, which he has been exploring with the Philharmonia Orchestra for over a year. As the series comes to a close, Maestro Ashkenazy takes us back in time to his youth in Russia where we hear about his first musical experiences and early encounters with Rachmaninov's music. He is joined by his wife, Thorunn "Dody" Ashkenazy, in this extended interview. 

This week's Backstage Pass podcast is all about the oldest music festival in the world, the Three Choirs Festival. This year marks the 300th anniversary of the event. As the resident orchestra at the festival we were keen to mark this special event by bringing the behind-the-scenes experience of the Three Choirs to your ears. Tune in to hear more from this unique event with interviews from the festival's artistic director, Geraint Bowen, the Philharmonia roadies and our players.

Our latest podcast is a special extended edition of Backstage Pass, recorded live at Henley Festival. On the 10 July 2015 the Philharmonia Orchestra performed with Gregory Porter, Alison Balsom, Laura Mvula, Shona McGarty, Ballet Black and Ji Liu in a celebration of George Gershwin's music, led by Troy Miller and Fabio D'Andrea. Follow the musicians backstage in this episode for a glimpse of this spectacular event. The podcast features interviews with Alison Balsom, Gregory Porter, Laura...

This week's Backstage Pass is a behind-the-scenes documentary about the orchestra's latest education project. We follow 300 young singers and instrumentalists as they rehearse a work inspired by the discovery of Richard III in a Leicester car park. Composed by John Webb with creative input from the students, the musicians go on to complete a fantastic world premiere performance side by side with members of the Philharmonia. Share the experience of the group as they find their feet with this...

Earlier this year the Philharmonia Orchestra recorded tracks for Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron soundtrack from Abbey Road Studios, London. For this special edition of Backstage Pass we are happy to feature an extended interview with the film's composer Brian Tyler. Welcome to the musical world of Tony Stark, The Hulk, Black Widow, Captain America, Thor, and many more epic Marvel superheros.

Talking bats, humanlike cats and tall hats - welcome to the world of Ravel and his opera l'Enfant et les Sortilèges. This episode we talk to world renowned soprano Barbara Hannigan about her role as the Princess, Esa-Pekka Salonen on the magic of Ravel and director Irina Brown from backstage at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall. If that isn't enough of a glimpse backstage, you'll hear from the costume designer, assistant conductor, Philharmonia Voices and Parisian soloists.

Step beyond the stage to the edge of the ocean with a special edition of Backstage Pass. This episode takes you behind the scenes of The Blue Planet in Concert.  From David Attenborough to the Royal Festival Hall stage, discover the magic of George Fenton's music and listen to audience reactions on the night.

Jump into the present day as we focus on contemporary music in the latest episode of Backstage Pass. Leave Mozart and Beethoven aside for fifteen minutes, it’s all about the composers bringing their work to life today. Listen out for dancing clarinetists, jazzy riffs and unexpected collaborations. This podcast features interviews with Unsuk Chin, Anders Hillborg and Kevin John Edusei.

Backstage Pass is the Philharmonia Orchestra’s first uniquely audio podcast. We already bring you video podcasts but this time it’s all about the audio. We'll take you behind the scenes of the Orchestra, giving you exclusive access to the players and a glimpse of the hard work that goes on before each and every concert. This week the podcast is dedicated to our new season launch, kicking off with Berlioz’ brilliant work – La Grande Messe des Morts. There’ll be laughter and unexpected...

In this audio podcast, Michael Fuller introduces his instrument - the double bass.

The composers Antonín Dvořák and his favourite pupil and son-in-law, Josef Suk, were both influenced by place and close relationships with loved ones. Travel to Prague with conductor Jakub Hrůša, a Prague resident, to uncover the stories behind Dvořák's Cello Concerto and Suk's rarely performed work, the Asrael Symphony. Part of the Bohemian Legends concert series in April & May 2014, at Royal Festival Hall and beyond, conducted by Jakub Hrůša: http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/bohemian

re-rite is the Philharmonia Orchestra’s digital installation based on The Rite of Spring. Through this combination of immersive video and interactive design visitors can experience what it's like to play with a live orchestra. From conducting with Esa-Pekka Salonen to following the score note by note with each instrument - re-rite takes you inside the orchestra.

In this Listening Guide, pianist Nikolai Lugansky guides us through Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto. Dubbed 'Emperor' by its English publisher, this was Beethoven's last piano concerto. Find out more in this film about what makes this hugely popular work special and forward-looking, complete with illustrative extracts from the work performed by Lugansky. For more information on the Philharmonia's upcoming performance of the work with Nikolai Lugansky, please visit...

Season's Greetings from the Philharmonia Orchestra. We celebrate this year with a brass quintet of Philharmonia players, playing an arrangement of Gustav Holst's carol 'In the Bleak Midwinter', arranged by Toby Street. Why not send the Philharmonia Christmas Card to your friends? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/christmas to find out more.

In this feature-length biopic, Series Advisor Steven Stucky and Principal Conductor and Philharmonia Orchestra Artistic Advisor Esa-Pekka Salonen travel to Poland to the explore the life and works of Polish composer Witold Lutosławski, from his early life, his struggle for survival in Warsaw during the Second World War, the Stalinist period, and finally into his latter and most mature works. This film was released as part of the Philharmonia Orchestra's series Woven Words - "Music begins...

In this film, Philharmonia members past and present tell the story of how a last-minute decision by the Orchestra's management 30 years ago ignited what would go on to be a long-lasting relationship between Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia, firstly as Principal Guest Conductor, and, since 2008, as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor.

In this film, Jennifer McLaren introduces her instrument - the e flat clarinet. To learn more about the e flat clarinet visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/explore/instruments/e_flat_clarinet. Why not download our iPad app The Orchestra to learn even more? Visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/app for more information.

The Philharmonia Orchestra were delighted to be invited to the Classical Stage at London Mela 2013, to perform Ustad Amjad Ali Khan's composition 'Samaagam', played on the sarod by his two sons Amaan and Ayaan. In this film we speak with the two brothers before their performance, as well as with conductor David Murphy, who spent a considerable amount of time in Delhi with the composer. We also hear from the Mela's Artistic Director Ajay Chhabra, on the history of the Mela and the...

The Philharmonia Orchestra's Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Esa-Pekka Salonen, introduces Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, narrative programme music for the modern orchestra. To hear more about this piece, why not download our iPad app, 'The Orchestra'? Visit philharmonia.co.uk/app for more information.

Acknowledged as the UK's foremost musical pioneer, the Philharmonia Orchestra lives at the heart of British musical life. In this film, Simon Oliver (Double Bass and Chairman) introduces the Orchestra and its work today. For more information, please visit the new website www.philharmonia.co.uk.

Go on a journey with the Philharmonia Orchestra as they travel to Paris with Esa-Pekka Salonen, and prepare for a particularly special performance of the Rite of Spring at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées - the venue of the original première - in the piece's centenary year, 2013.

With 2013 being the Centenary year for Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Philharmonia Esa-Pekka Salonen discusses his relationship with this seminal work, and its continuing relevance in a 21st century context. To mark the Centenary, Esa-Pekka Salonen is touring the work across Europe with the Philharmonia Orchestra, a tour culminating in a concert at Paris's Theatre des Champs-Elysées, the venue of the work's infamously riotous première. The London...

In this interview, Esa-Pekka Salonen discusses Shostakovich's Symphony No. 4. Written at a politically turbulent time, during which was published the infamous Pravda article denouncing the composer and his work, its original première was eventually cancelled, and the work did not resurface until the early 1960s. Symphony No. 4 is being performed together with the Opera 'Orango', which has its European première in London on 16 May 2013. For more information on the concert, please visit...

An extended documentary about the recently-discovered opera by Shostakovich, 'Orango'. It features interviews with Esa-Pekka Salonen, who premiered the work, Gerard McBurney, who orchestrated the work, and Irina Brown, who is directing the semi-staged European Premiere taking place at the Royal Festival Hall in May 2013. As well as learning about how the work surfaced, and its orchestration, we also delve into some of the musical influences surrounding Shostakovich when he wrote the piece....

This extended documentary goes behind the scenes at the Philharmonia Orchestra's Universe of Sound project, from conception to completion. For more information on the project, please visit universeofsound.co.uk. Next dates: 27 April - 12 May 2013 Augustine House, Canterbury Christ Church University